Statistical cakd comparing machine



Sept. 9, `1941. J. M. McDoNNELL `STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINEFiled Dec.' 21, 1939 ve sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 2A

mvENToR JOSEPH M. MC DONNELL BY ATT RNEY Sept. 9, 1941- J. M.McDoNNl-:LL

STATISTICAL` CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5FIG. 7

INVENTOR JOSEPH M. MC DONNELL ATTORNEY Sept 9, 1941. J. M. McDoNNELL l D2,255,674

STATISTICAL CARD CQMPARING MACHINE Filed DeoV 2l, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4FlG. 9

MASTER CARD MASTER CARD SENSINC MECHANISM MAGAZ'NE MASTER CARD 290SENS.l CHAM.

i MASTER CARD READING RETA|N|NG MECHAN|SM l CoMPARlNG l MECHANISM MASTERCAR MASTER CARD RECEIVER MASTER CARD g DETA|L CARD CoMPARlNG i CoMPARlNGPIN `P|N ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY l i T PUNCH DETA|L CARD TRANSLAToR TRANSLAToRSET- P|N UPPER BASKET PIN- Box AND DETAIL CARD PUNCH GAGS MAG'AzlNEDETA|L CARD4 "o PUNCH CHAM, SENS. CHAM DETA|L CARD SENSING MECHANISMINVENTOR JOSEF-H M MC DONNELL.

Sept.

J. M. MCDNNELL STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1939 6Sheets-Sheet 6 AT ORNFV Patented Sept. 9, 1941 2,255,674 STATISTICALCARD CMPARIN G MACHINE Joseph M. McDonnell,

Baldwin, N. Y., assigner to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., acorporation `of Delaware Application December 21, 1939, Serial No.310,383

43 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for comparing perforation patterns indifferent records, and particularly to the record feeding means of suchmachines.

An embodiment of the invention is shown herein as applied to astatistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in thecopending application of Karl J. Braun, S. N. 228,381, filed September3, 1938, now Patent No. 2,211,094, dated August 13, 1940. Machines ofthe type shown in said patent are employed in accounting or statisticalsystems in which master records are used in conjunction with detailrecords. In these systems it is desirable to compare prepuncheddesignative data contained in the detail records with pre-puncheddesignative data contained in the master records, and to control or eectvarious other operations in connection with such records in accordancewith the comparison, or non-comparison, of -the pre-punched data.

In the machine disclosed inthe above mentioned patent either of threetypes of operations can be performed, namely l 1. Record sorting (i. e.,to segregate comparing master records from non-comparing master records,and to segregate comparing detail records from non-comparing detailrecords),

2. Record punching (i. e., to reproduce data contained in the masterrecords, other than that used for comparing purposes, in the detailrecords), or

3. Stopping the machine (e. g., to permit the insertion of controlrecords at desired points in the run of compared records).

Each of these operations may be effected selectively or in combinationwith either or both of the others upon the sensing of a comparison, ornon-comparison, between designative perforation patterns in master anddetail records, according to the` requirements of a particularaccounting or statistical problem. 'Ihe machine is also provided withvariably controllable master anddetail record feeding mechanisms,whereby any one of a plurality of different types of master and/ordetail record feeding may be effected,

in conjunction with any desired combination ofV the above mentionedsorting, punching, and stopping operations, according to thequantitative relationship of the master and detail records to be handledin a particular problem. The several types of record feeding selectivelyobtainable by the arrangements disclosed in the above men-` tionedpatent, in accordance with the sensing 5:5`

5. To feed detail records of a comparison or non-comparison betweenperforation patterns in master and detail records, may be brieflydescribed, as follows:

1. To feed master and detail records simultaneously either on acomparison, or on a noncomparison.

2. To feed only detail records on a comparison,

or on a non-comparison.

3. To feed master and detail records simultaneously on a comparison, andmaster records on a non-comparison.

4. To feed master and detail records simultaneously on a comparison,`and detail records on a non-comparison;-

ona comparison, and

` master records on a non-comparison.

6. To feed master records on a comparison, and master and detail recordssimultaneously on a non-comparison.

7. To feed detail records on a comparison, and master and detail recordssimultaneously on a non-comparison.

S. To feed master records on a comparison, and

detail records on a non-comparison.

Furthermore, an operation selector mechanism is provided whereby a givenmachine may be preconditioned,in accordance with the several individualtypes of record handling problems that may arise in a given accountingor statistical system, to effect selectively any one of a plurality ofthe various available combinational operations of `record sorting,and/or record punching, and/or machine stopping, and record feeding. Inthe particular arrangement shown in the above mentioned application, theoperation selector mechanism is controlled by an operation selectordial, manually settable to eight positions, whereby a statistical cardcomparing machine may be arranged to effect any one of eight of suchcombinational operations selectively.

The principal object of the present invention is to increase theflexibility of the record feeding means of record comparing machines.

Of the above mentioned types of record feeding described in the abovementioned application, only the fifth, wherein detail records are fed ona comparison and master records are fed on a non-comparison, need beconsidered in detail herein. This type of record feeding is employed instatistical and accounting systems in which a presorted master recordfile is to be compared with a presorted detail record le wherein thedetail file comprises a plurality of groups of detail records and therecords of each group are Vmaster record for each f are no comparingmaster 2 perforated with common designative data, and wherein the masterfile comprises one comparing group of detail records (i. e., a masterrecord perforated with designative data corresponding to the commondesignative data of the detail records of the associated group) and, inaddition, may include non-comparing master records (i. e., masterrecords having designative data for which there are no counterparts inthe detail file) Under these conditions, when a comparison is sensedbetween the designative perforation patterns of a master record and thefirst detail record of a group, the master record perforation pattern isretained, and detail record feeding is initiated and is continued duringeach machine cycle until the rst detail 1ecord of the next group issensed. Inasmuch as the designative data in this record differs fromthat in the retainedv master record perforation pattern, anon-comparison is sensed. When this occurs, the detail record isretained and master record feeding is initiated. In the event that thedesignative data in the succeeding master record compares with that ofthe retained detail record, detail record feeding is resumed, as above..However, in the event that the designative data in the succeeding masterrecord does not compare with that of the retained detail record,'masterrecord feeding is continued, during each machine cycle, until thecomparing master record for the detail record group represented Vbytheretained detail record is sensed. Thereupon, detail record feeding isresumed, as above, until the first record of the succeeding group isVsensed. Thus, in this type of operation, non-comparing, or excess,master records are passed through the machineA without affecting thedisposition of the detail records.

It will be noted, feeding, the punching, sorting,

that with this type of record and machine'stopping control mechanisms,described in the above mentioned patent, may be arranged to effect anyone of the individual or combinational operations graphicallyillustrated in Fig. "74 of the patent, as desired,`to obtain thecorresponding result graphically illustrated Vin Fig. 79 thereof.

In many accounting and statistical systems,

Y however, problems frequently arise vin which, in

the master and detail record iilesto be handled, the number of groups ofdetail `records arein eX- cess of fthe number of master records, i.e.,.the detail file comprises a plurality of groups of detail recordsforeach of which there isv a comparing master record in the master file,and also includes groups of vdetail records for which there records.Under these conditions, the above memtioned type of record feeding isnot applicable since itis apparent that upon the sensing of -the firstdetail record of a group, for which there Yis no comparing masterrecord, master record feeding would be initiated and continued until themaster record le is eX- hausted. To accommodate a record comparingmachine for handling this type of problem, the

Vpresent invention provides, as its principal feature, means to preventthe feeding of more than one master card after the sensing of the rstVnon-comparison following a comparison, and to eifectdetail recordfeeding after each succeeding cycle in which'a non-comparison is sensed,as well as `after cycles :in which comparisons are sensed. By'thisarrangemen Athe perforation pattern of each master record-is retained inthe `master recordreading retaining mechanism until theassociated-:detail record-group iscompared 'ation selector dial and the.card Fig. 1 is va left side elevation of the invention together with theelements of a statistical card comparing machine that cooperatetherewith, partly in section, showing the relative positions of theseveral elements when the machine is in normal or stopping position; Y v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged left side elevation of the invention inconjunction with the card feeding mechanism, showing the relativepositions of the several elements at the end of a cycle following thesensing of a comparison;

Fig. 2A is anenlarged left side elevation of the invention inconjunction with the card feeding mechanism, showing the relativepositions of the several elements at the end of a cycle following thesensing of a non-comparison;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing therelative positions 0f the koperfeed control lever;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the control device actuating mechanism, showingthe parts inthe position attained at the endof a cycle in which acomparison is sensed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the inner ratchet of the control deviceactuating mechanism; f

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the outer ratchet of the control deviceactuating mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a detail of the operating mechanism for the-card stop in thedetail card sensing chamber, in normal position, and includes aportionof the control mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a detail rof the retract mechanism in the master card readingretaining mechanism,'in normal position, and includes a portion of thecontrol mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of the principal elementsof astatistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in theV abovementioned patent;

Fig. l0 is a timing diagram; and

Fig. 11 comprises a series of schematic views illustrating the manner ofprogression of master and detail cards when card feeding control cam152B, of the patent, is effective for operation in conjunction with themechanism of the invention.

To Afacilitate an understanding of the present' STArisTrcAL .CARDCoMPAnINo MACHINE- BAsIc MECHANISM In machines of the type disclosed inthe pat-v ent, detail cards are placedin avdetail card magazine Ill)(see Fig. 9 and are passed seriatim to suitable vfeed rolls wherebytheyare conveyed, first, to the detail cardsensing chamber in whichtheir perforated data is analyzed, and, second, to a punch chamber inwhich additional data may be perforated in the cards.l From the punchchamber, the detail cards are conveyed to a receiver pocket21, or, inthe event the sorting control mechanism described in the application iseffective, they are conveyed either to the receiver pocket or to aneject pocket 28, depending on the setting of the sorting controlmechanism and the character of the designative data in the cards. Duringthe period in which a detail card is held in the detail card sensingchamber, the perforation pattern therein is analyzed by sensing pinsmounted in a reciprocating pin box of the detail card sensing mechanism.By this means a mechanical representation of such perforation pattern istransmitted, by means of pins in an upper pin box and translator wiresin a translator 255, to the detail card comparing pin assembly 445mechanism.

Master cards are placed in a master card magazine 290 and are passedseriatim to suitable feed rolls whereby they are conveyed to the mastercard sensing chamber in whichtheir perforated data is analyzed. From themaster card sensing chamber, the master cards are conveyed to a receiverpocket 25, or, in the event the sorting control mechanism described inthe application is effective, they are conveyed either to the receiverpocket or to an eject pocket 25, depending on the setting of thesorting` control mechanism and the character of the designative data inthe cards. During the period in which a mastercard is held in the masterber, the perforation pattern contained therein is analyzed by sensingpins mounted in a reciproeating pin box of the master card sensingmechanism. By this means a mechanical representation of such perforationpattern is transmitted to pins ina master card reading retainingmechanism wherein it is retained, by suitable locking mechanism, until anew master card is sensed. The movement 4of the pins in the readingretaining mechanism is transmitted directly to the master card comparingpin assembly 425 of the comparing mechanism.

In. the comparing mechanism the mechanical representations of master anddetail card perforation patterns are compared and the occurrence of a`comparison, or non-comparison, between such perforation patterns isutilized to control or vary machine operations, as hereinafterdescribed.

DETAIL GARD FEEDING MEcHANrsM Referring to Fig. 1, detail cards arestored in a detail card magazine supported by brackets bolted to theframe of the machine. A card picker knife |12, arranged to pass thelowermost card to the detail card sensing chamber feed rolls (not shown)is connected by a link |14 to an arm |15 xed to a rock shaft |16 whichmay be rocked during each cycle by a card feed cam |80 keyed on a camshaft which is rotated through one complete revolution during eachmachine cycle. For this purpose shaft 11|:` is provided with an innerarm |11 (see also Fig. 2) having a roller |18 coacting with a slide |19guided on suitable studs |80. The left edge 0f slide |19 coacts with aroller |8| on an arm |82 fixed to a collar |83 rotatably mounted on aframe stud |84. Also xed to collar |83 is an arm |85 having a followerroller |86 coacting with` card feed cam |98. A strong spring ISI,extended between arm 11 of the comparing card sensing chamand a framestud |92, resiliently urges arm |11, slide |18 and arm |82 leftwardlywhereby follower roller |86 is urged against cam |90. The contour of cam|90 is such (see Fig. 10) that spring |9| urges arm |11 and shaft |16counterclockwise to cause picker knife to the sensing chamber feed rollsduring the period from 30 to 120 of a machine cycle, whereas the pickerknife is positively returned by the cam during the period from 210 ofthe same cycle to 30 of the following cycle. It will be noted that thetime of restoration of the card feeding mechanism has been slightlymodified from that disclosed in the above mentioned patent, for reasonsapparent hereinafter.

In each of the card feeding operations referred to above, it is.essential that detail card feeding be prevented whenever master cardsare fed. To render the detail card feeding mechanism ineffective underthese conditions slide |19 is provided with a pin |93 arranged to beengaged by a latch |94 mounted on a rock shaft |95. The latch 194,although rotatably mounted on shaft |85, is resiliently held fastthereto by a spring 96 which holds the upper edge of latch |94 against apin |91 in an oppositely disposed latch 305 which is fast -on the shaft.Thus, latch |94 moves integrally with shaft |95. As hereinafterexplained, shaft may be rocked to place latch |94 in either an upperposition or a lower position. In its lower position, latch |94 is clearof pin |83, and detail card feeding is effected, as above described. Inits upper position, latch |84 engages pin |93 and serves to hold slide|19 against leftward movement as cam |88 rotates, whereby no movement isimparted to rock shaft |16 and detail card feeding is prevented.

DETAIL Gem) STOP MECHANISM To retain the detail cards in the detail cardsensing chamber 225, 22| (Figs. 1 and '1) during the period in whichthey are sensed, a card stop mechanism is provided. This devicecomprises an inverted L-shaped card stop 265 guided for verticalmovement by a pair of brackets 265 having slots encompassing studs 251Xed in the framework of the machine, per or open position by springs 258extended between studs 261 and studs on brackets 286.

u I To close card stop 265 `during the period in which a detail card issensed, a pair of arms 259, fastened to each end of a transverse rockshaft 21|), extends into slots in brackets 256. Also Xed to shaft 218 isan arm 21| joined by a pin-inslot connection to a link 212 which, inturn, is connected to an arm 213 fast on a rock shaft 214. Shaft 214ismounted in suitable brackets and is provided with an arm 215 connectedby a link 216 to an arm 211, pivoted at 218, having a follower roller219 cooperating with a vcard stop cam 28H1 keyed to cam shaft 48. Thearrangement is such, as indicated in Fig. 10, that, when follower roller219 rides on the high dwell of cam 280 (as in Figs. 1 and 7), card stop265 is positively moved downwardly to close the sensing chamber,wh-ereas when roller 21S rides on the low dwell of cam 282 springs 268urge the card stop to open position.

Under certain conditions it is required that N 288. For this purpose, anarm 28| is fixed to rock shaft 210 and is provided with a pin 282arranged to be engaged |12 to feed a card rock shaft |16,

are fed. V'mechanism ineffective under slide Sill is provided withV aReferring to Fig. 1, the master cards are stored in a master cardmagazine 2&0 supported by brackets 29| bolted to the frame of themachine. A card picker knife 292, arranged to passV the lowermost mastercard tothe mastercard sensing chamber feedV rolls'l, is connected by alink 294! to anparm 295 fiXed to a rock shaft 296 (see also Fig. 2)whichmay be rocked during each cycle by card feed cam lill). For thispurpose, shaft 2% is provided with an arm'l -connected by a link 298 tothe horizontal arm of an offset bell-crank ZES rotatably mounted on infront of arm |11 of the detail card feeding mechanism. The vertical armof bell-crank 29,9 is provided with a follower roller 3fm coacting witha slide Sill, similar to slide |19, guided on studs |39. The left edgeof slide` vSill coacts with a roller 302 (see Fig. 2A) on arm |35 whichis provided, as described above, with a follower roller Y|86 coactingwith card feed cam Hifi. A strong spring 393, extended between thevertical arm of bell-crank 299 and frame stud |92, resiliently urgesslide 30| and arm |85 leftwardly whereby follower roller i3d is heldagainst cam lSfl. As in the case of the detail card feeding mechanism,the contour of cam |30 is such that during the period from 30 to 120 ofa machine cycle (see Fig. 10) spring 303 tends to urge bell-crank 299counter-clockwise, whereby shaft 29B is rocked counter-clockwise tocause picker knife 2Q?. to feed a master card to the mastercardsensingicham'ber feed rolls; whereas during the period from 210 ofthe same cycle to 30 of the following cycle, theV picker knife ispositively returned by the cam.

In each of thetypes of card feeding operations, herein described, it isessential that master card feeding be prevented whenever detail cards Torender theY master card feeding these conditions, pin 30d arranged tobeengaged by a latch 395 fast on rock shaftV |95. As hereinafterexplained, shaft HB may be rocked to placeV latch 3M in either an upperposition or a lower position. 1n its upper position, 305 is clear of pin3M, and master card feeding is effected', Vas describedr above. In itslower position, latch 3515 engages pin 3M and serves to hold slide 36|against leftward movement as cam ist) rotates, whereby no movement isvimparted to bell-crank 299 or rock shaft 2%, and master card feeding isprevented.

READING RETAINING RETRAc'r MECHANisM As fully described in the abovementioned patent, machines of the type disclosed therein are providedwith a reading retaining mechanism to retain a mechanical representationof each master card perforation pattern until the succeeding master cardis sensed. This device comprises a plurality of rows of spring-pressed,lreadingretaining pins 395 (partially shown in Fig. l) aligned with andadapted to be depressed by the pins in the master car-d sensingmechanism, and arranged to be locked in depressed position byspring-urged locking slides 391 to retain a melatchl card. For thispurpose a abled.

chanical representation of the perforation pattern sensed in the mastercard.

To eliminate the possibility of error in the setting up of master cardperforation patterns, the reading retaining mechanism is provided with aretract mechanism to release the set-up made by a master cardimmediately prior to the time a new set-up is made from the succeedingmaster retract bail bar`45 (Figs. 1 and 8) is arranged to coact with theleft ends of all slides 3Sl of the reading retaining mechanism. Bail bar465 is supported by arms |06 fast on a transverse rock shaft 4&1suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. Also fast on shaft lillis a V-shaped arm 409 connected by a link H04 to an arm 4H fast on arock shaft M2 journaled in suitable supports. Fixed on the end of shaftM2 is a substantially triangular plate M5 at the apex of which ispivoted a bell-crank MS having a cutaway shoulder Ml, on its pendantarm, adapted to engage the forward end of an arm I8 pivotally mounted onrock shaft M2. Arm M8 overlies the upper end of a push rod 422 connectedto an arm |53 which is pivoted at |59 and is provided with a followerroller coacting with a cam |60 on cam shaft lib. With this arrangement,when shoulder til is engaged with arm M8, as hereinafter described, camii is effective to rock arm M8 counter-clockwise immediately before theend of a machine cycle (see Fig. 10). A spring M9, extended between avertical extension |129 on arm 558 and a stud 25 on bell-crank M6,serves to restore arm H8 after each actuation by cam |56, and alsoserves, unless otherwise prevented, to maintain shoulder arm M8 so thateach actuation of ycam |59 is imparted to plate H5 to rock shaft ll|2counterclockwise. This movement, through arm 4H, link Mil, and arm 469,serves to rock shaft 401 clockwise to cause bail bar 'M5 to shift allslides 39? to the right (Fig. l) to release any depressed .pins SeilTherefore, at the end of any machine cycle in the arrangement thus fardisclosed, the mechanical representations of a perforation pattern madein the reading retaining mechanism at the beginning of that cycle may bereleased to permit the mechanical representation of a new perforationpattern to be set up at the beginning of the succeeding cycle. However,as hereinafter described, -means are provided to prevent the operationof the retract mechanism of the master card reading retaining mechanismwhen the master card feeding mechanism isV dis- COMPARING MEoHANIsM inthe comparing mechanism the mechanical representations of master anddetail card perforation patterns are mechanically ccmparedand theoccurrence of a comparison, or non-comparison, between suclfiperforationpatterns is utilized to control or vary machine operations. A knowledgeof the specific construction of the comparing mechanism is not essentialto an understanding of the present invention, but may be obtained fromthe above men'ioned patent. 1nsofar as the present invention isvconcerned it is sufficient to understand that the movement of the pinsin the master and detail'card comparing pin .assemblies il and i415(Fig. 9), in accordance with the perforation patterns in master anddetail cards, is effective to determined theposition of certaincomparing slides dill (partially illustrated in Figs. l and l) one ofwhich is pro- 4|`| in engagement with vided for each column of a recordcard. Abutting each slide 410 is a manually settable interponent 416which, when that column is to be used for comparing purposes, is set inits upper or eifective position, as in Fig. l. 'I'he construction andarrangement 'of the comparing mechanism is such that in the event thecompared perforation patterns are identical, the slides 470 are free tomove to the left to permit counter-clockwise movement of a comparingslide sensing bail rod 640 as in Fig. 4. However, if either patterncontains a perforation for which there is no counterpart in the other,one or more of the slides 470 is blocked and, together with itsassociated interponent 41S, serves to prevent the counter-clockwisemovement of :bail rod 640. The manner in which bail rod 640 is operatedto sense the position of comparing slides 410 is described hereinafterunder the heading Control deviceactuating mechanism.

CoNTRoL DEVICE CoNrRoL DEvIoEAcTUATING MEoHANIsM `Each of the severalcontrol 'cams employed in a machine of this type is secured to a sleeve690 (Figs. 1, 2, 2A, 4, '7, and 8) rotatably mounted on a stud 60| iixedin the frame of the machine. Each of the control its associatedmechanism in lone manner when the perforation patterns in master anddetail cards compare, .and in a different manner when such perforationpatterns do not compare. Therefore, the control cams are arranged to beactuated to eifect their respective functions whenever a non-comparisoncycle in which a comparison was sensed and, also, whenever a comparisonis sensed after a cycle in which a non-comparison was sensed. To effectthe requisite movement of the control cams, an actuating mechanism,operable under control of the `comparing mechanism, is pro-vided tocause recurrent step-by-step movement 'of sleeve 630. This mechanismcomprises an inner ratchet 605 (see Fig. 5) and an outer ratchetl (seeFig. 6)

,each provided with four equally spaced teeth 60S and (H, respectively,and having blank spaces, equivalent to a tooth space, between adjacentteeth. Both ratchets are fast to sleeve S (see Fig. 4) but are offsetrelative to each other so that teeth SiS of ratchet SI5 are intermediateto teeth 605 of ratchet 535 whereby, in eifect, they combine to form aneight toothed ratchet. Co-

carried by the horizontal arm of a lever 6 I El which is `gpivoted on aframe stud 6| l and is urged countereclockwise by a spring (not shown).Coacting with ratchet SI5 is an actuating pawl 6I8,

cams is arranged to vcontrol .f

urged clockwise yby a spring 6I 9, carried by a lever 621) which is alsopivoted on stud 6l I and is urged counter-clockwise by a spring 622. Thearrangement of ratchets 605, SI5, and pawls 668, 6l8, is such thatduring machine cycles following those in which a comparison was sensed,pawl 668 registers with a blank space on ratchet HB5, whereas -pawl SISBis in position to register with a tooth 6 l 6 on ratchet 6 I 5. However,when `levers GIU and 62D are in their lowermost positions, a stud 623 onpawl 698 coacts with a cam surface S24 on pawl E528 whereby pawl 6I8 ismoved counter-clockwise against the tension of spring SIS to prevent theengagement of the pawl with a tooth GEES.

For operating pawls B and 6l8, an oifset push rod 625, provided at itsupper end with an abutment 26 arranged to coact with levers Gl and 628,is connectedI to an arm 621 pivoted at 628 and provided with a followerroller 629 that coacts spectively, is effective to actuate sleeve Bill]through one-eighth of a revolution. However, in the event pawls 608 orSIS are not engaged with ratchets Gl or SI5, respectively, leversEIlland` 620 are operated idly and no movement is imparted to sleeve llil. Aspring urged detent arm ESI, pivoted at 632 and having a roller 333arranged to coact with a detent plate 635 fast on sleeve Bill), isprovided to center sleeve SSB in each of its several positions.

In order to effect an actuation of sleeve 6M whenever there is anon-comparison between master and detail card perforation patterns in acycle following one in which a comparison was sense the position ofcomparing slides M0 of the is sensed after a Secured to shaft 639supporting a bail rod Elli) provided with a cutaway shoulder 644arranged to engage a latch face 645 on an upwardly extending arm oflever 6H). The entire assembly comprising shaft 638, bell-crank 63T,arms 639 and 64I is urged counterclockwise by a comparatively strongspring 643 extended between the horizontal arm of the bellcrank and aframe stud.

At the beginning of each cycle cam 633 elevates push rod B25 and,through lever 620, link 636, bell-crank 631, and arm 64I, roclas shaft638 clockwise to move bail rod 64d out of engagement with interponents416. Toward the end ofeach cycle, shortly after comparing slides 470have been positioned, follower roller @29 and vice versa, means` areprovided to` counter-clockwise.

rides into the-low dwell of cam 63 thereby lowering lever 626 and link636, and permitting spring 60.3 to urge bell-crank SSI and shaft 636 Inthe event all comparing slides M6 in the columns containing designativedata are free to move leftwardly, as in the case when theV comparedperforation patterns in master and detail cards are identical, bail rod6M! is free to move leftwardly whereby shaftV 638 rockscounter-clockwise and withdraws shoulder 6M on arm 64| from the path ofmovement of latch face 665 as lever 6|l is rocked counterclockwise. Inthis case, when levers 6|!! and 628 rock to their lowermost positions,pawl 666 rides on a blank space of ratchet 665, and stud 623 coacts withcam face 62d to prevent the engagement of pawl 6|8 with ratchet ili.VThus, when a cycle in which a comparison is sensed follows a cycle inwhich a comparison was sensed, no movement is imparted to sleeve 66|),and the control cams thereon function in the same Inanner'as in thepreceding cycle. However, in the event one, or more, of the comparingslides 416 is held in its extreme rightward position when shaft 633 isurged counter-clockwise, as in the case when the perforation patterns inmaster and detail cards are not identical, bail rod 640 is preventedfrom moving leftwardly. Shaft 638 is thereby held in rocked position andretains shoulder 6M onarm 64| in the path of movement of latch face 665.In this case, the left end of lever 6|0 is held in its uppermostposition as lever 626 descends. Thus, stud 623 is ineffective to preventthe engagement of pawl 6|8 whereby spring 619 engages pawl 6 8 with atooth 6|6 on ratchet 645 when lever 626 reaches its lowermost position.Immediately thereafter, push rod 625 is again elevated to actuate lever620 and pawl SIB which, in turn, actuate sleeve 60B. Thus, when a cyclein which a non-comparison is sensed follows a cycle in which acomparison was sensed, sleeve 60u is rotated through one step by leverV62|), and the control cams thereon are positioned to control theirassociated y,

mechanisms accordingly.

In the event another non-comparison is sensed at the end of thesucceeding cycle, lever 5| is retained in its uppermost position, asabove. In this case, since pawl 6|B is now in register with a blankspace on ratchet 6|5, lever 620 moves idly and no further movement isimparted to sleeve 606. This condition is maintained as long as theperforation patterns in simultaneously sensed master and detail cardperforation patterns do not compare However, when the next A comparisonis sensed, bail rod i'and shaft 638 are free to rock counter-clockwiseand serve to vdisengageshoulder 644 from latch face 6&5 to v permitlever 6|() to follow pushrod 625Vdownwardly, In this case, since pawl668 is now in register with a tooth 666 on ratchet 635, the subsequentelevation of push rod 625 is effective to actuate sleeve 660. Thus, whena cycle in which a comparisonv is sensed follows a cycle in which anon-comparison was sensed, sleeve 6.6i) is rotated through one step bylever 6m, and the control cams thereon are positioned to control theirassociated mechanisms accordingly.

GoNTRoL DnvroE-CARD FEED CONTROL MEoHANIsM F A. Operation of card feeddisabling latches control the operation of the master and detail cardfeeding mechanisms, as desired. As heretofore explained, the master anddetail card feeding mechanisms are each normally arranged to feed cardsduring each vmachine cycle but either may lbe prevented from operationif the associated disabling latch Bii' or |64 (see Figs. 2 and 2A)respectively, is rendered effective. For conveniently controlling'theeffectiveness or ineffectiveness of these latches, rock shaft |95, onwhich they are mounted, is provided with a rock arm 646 (see also Fig.'7) connected to a vertical link 64I. The upper end of link 64I isconnected to the rightwardly extending arm 646 of a lever 669 fast on arock shaft 656 suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. 4Asdescribed in the patent, shaft 656 may be rocked to either one or two ofthree positions by each of the several card feed control cams and discs,disclosed therein, whereby link 61H may be held in either a lower, anintermediate, or an upper position.

In the lower position of link 6M, rock arm 6156 rocks shaft |95counter-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby latch IM is moved out ofthe path of movement of pin |63, whereas latch 35 is engaged with pin3M. In this position of the parts, slide |19 is free to move leftwardlyto effect detail card feeding under control of cam |90, but slide 36| isretained in its rightward position to prevent master card feeding. Inthe upper position of link 661, rock Varm 666 rocks shaft |95 clockwise,as shown in Fig. 2A, whereby latch 365 is moved to its upper positionout of the path of movement of pin 34, whereas latch Mii is engaged withpin |93. In this position of the parts, slide 36| is free to move left-Wardly to effect master card feeding under control of cam |60, but slide|19 is retained in its rightward position to prevent detail card feed-Ving, The intermediate position of link 64T, in which latches 365 and |94are both held out of the path of movement of pins 364 and |93 to permitsimultaneous master and detail card feeding, need not be considered inconnection with the present invention With reference to Fig. 10. it willbe noted that cam 63|) serves to actuate sleeve 666, on which the cardfeed control cams for positioning link 64I are mounted, prior to thetime that card feed cam |96 is effective to cause master or detail cardfeeding. Thus, the sensing, at the end of a cycle, of a condition thatnecessitates the disabling of either card feed mechanism is effective tocause such disabling to occur at the beginning of the succeeding cycle.

As mentioned heretofore, lmeans are provided to effect card feedingoperation in accountingr and statistical systems wherein master cardsare compared with groups of detail cards, and wherein the number ofmaster cards may exceed the number of groups of detail cards. In thistype of card handling problem, the detail cards of each group containidentical designative perforation patterns, and the master card stackcomprises a card, having a corresponding designative perforationpattern, for each group of detail cards and, in addition, may containone or more cards having perforation patterns for which there are nocounterparts in the detail card stack. Then, for properly effecting thesorting, punching, and stopping operations described in the citedapplication, the detail cards are fed during each machine cycle as longas the perforaperforation pattern is retained, further master cardfeeding is prevented and detail card feeding is resumed during one ormore cycles until the sensing of a detail card perforation pattern thatdoes not correspond to the retained mechanical representation of themaster card perforation pattern, i. e., until the` sensing of the firstdetail card of the succeeding detail card group.

To effect this type of operation, a cam 15D (Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8) iskeyed to sleeve 60|] of the control device. working portions eachincluding a low dwell, arranged to prevent master card feeding and, ashereinafter described, to prevent the operation of theretract mechanismin the master card reading retaining mechanism, and a high dwellarranged to prevent detail card feeding and, as hereinafter described,to retain the card stop in the detail card sensing chamber in effectivepsition. Coacting with cam 150 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a roller 15|carried on the left end of a lever '|52 pivoted, at 153, on the left endof a lever 154 pivotally mounted on a frame stud 652. The right end oflever 152 is provided with a stud 85| that extends into an L-shaped slot852 in a link '|55 that is connected to a cross rod 653 which issupported by an arm 654 (Fig. '7) and a lever 655 (see Fig. 8), each ofwhich is fast on rock `shaft 65|). A spring 853, extended between ahorizontal arm on link 155 and a pin on lever 152, urges link 155clockwise and serves to retain stud 85| in the left end of thehorizontal portion of slot 852 so that, in this type of operation, lever152 may be considered as pivotally connected to link 155. Thearrangement of this linkage is such that when cam 150 is renderedeffective to control card feeding, lever 154 is rocked clockwise ashereinafter described, to elevate pivot 153 and move roller 15| againsta low dwell of the cam. Lever 152 is thereby rocked clockwise aboutpivot 153 and, through elements 155, 653, 654, 655, rocks shaft 650clockwise. This movement, through arm 648, serves to move link 641 toits lower position. A comparatively heavy spring S56 on cross rod 653retains roller 15| in operative relationship with cam 150.

In` this position of the parts, latch 305 (see Fig. 2) is held engagedwith pin 304 to prevent master card feeding, and latch |94 is held outof the path of movement of pin |93 to permit detail card feeding. Thus,detail card feeding is i effected during each machine cycle as long asroller remains in register with a low dwell of cam 159, i. e., as longas the designative perforation patterns in successively senseddetailcards compare with the retained master card perforation pattern.When a non-comparison is sensed sleeve 63B is actuated, as describedabove, to place a high dwell of cam 150 in register with roller 15|.Lever 152 is thereby rocked counterclockwise about pivot 153 and,through elements Cam 15|! is provided with four` 155, 653, 654, 655,rocks shaft 650 counter-clockwise. This movement, through arm 648,serves to raise link 641 to its upper position. In this position of theparts, latch |94 (see Fig. 2A) is held engaged with pin |93 to preventdetail card feeding, and latch` 305 is held out of the path of movementof pin 304 to permit master card feeding. Thus, master card feeding iseifected during each cycle as long as roller 15| remains in registerwith a low dwell of cam 150, i. e., as long as the designativeperforation patterns in successively sensed master `carols do notcompare with the perforation pattern of the detail card held in thedetail card sensing chamber.

C. Control of reading retaining retract mechanzsm by cam 7 50 To retaina mechanical representation of the perforation pattern of a master cardduring the time that the detail cards of the detail card group havingcorresponding perforation patterns are compared therewith, means areprovided t0 prevent the operation of the retract mechanism in the mastercard reading retaining mechanism when a comparison is sensed during thistype of operation. For this purpose the left end of lever i555 (seeFigs. 1, 2, and 8) is provided with a stud B51 that underlies the upperarm of bellcrank 4|6 (Fig. 8) of the reading retaining retractmechanism. When shaft 650 is rocked clockwise as the result of thesensing of a comparison, i. e., when sleeve 600 is actuated to place alow dwell of cam 15!) in register with roller 15|, stud 651 rocksbell-crank 4|6 counter-clockwise to disengage shoulder 4|1 from arm 4|8.This condition is maintained as long as roller 15| remains in registerwith a low dwell on cam 150. Therefore, when cam IBG elevates push rod422 at the end of the cycle, arm 458 is ineffective to rock plate 4|5and shaft 4|2, whereby no movement is `imparted to retract bail bar 405.As a result, all locking slides 391 of the reading retaining mechanismare held in their leftward positions by their springs and serve toretain all reading retaining pins 393, that were depressed when 'themaster card was sensed, in their lowermost positions. Thus, a mechanicalrepresentation of the perforation pattern in the last sensed master cardis retained by the reading retaining mechanism and is compared with theperforation pattern of each succeeding detail card of the group insucceeding machine cycles. This condition is maintained until a detailcard with a non-comparing perforation pattern is sensed, e. g., thefirst detail card of the next detail card group. Thereupon, sleeve 690is again actuated, as described above, to place the adjacent high dwellof cam in register with roller 15| whereby shaft 65|! and lever 55 arerocked counter-clockwise. This movement spring 4i 9 to reengage shoulder4|1 0f bell-crank 4MB with arm4|8 to permit the resumption of operationof the reading retaining retract mechanism, This condition is maintainedas long as the perforation patterns in successively sensed master cardsdo not compare with the perforation pattern in the retained detail card.When a comparing master card is passed into the master card sensingchamber a comparison is sensed and, after the perforation pattern ofsuch card is set up in the reading retaining m-echanism, the readingretaining retract mechanism is disabled, as above, during the periodthat comparing detail cards are compared therewith.

Thus, in this type of operation under control permits of 'cam 15G, thereading retaining retract mechanism is effective to release master cardperforation patterns when nonecomparisons are sensed, but is ineffectiveto release master card perforation patterns when comparisons are sensed.

D. Control of card stop mechanism by cam 7 50 To retain the last feddetail card in the detail card sensing chamber until a master cardhaving a corresponding perforation pattern is sensed, means are providedto retain ythe card stop of the detail card sensing chamber in itseffective or closed position when a non-comparison is sensed during thistype of operation. For this purpose, a leftwardly extending arm 59 oflever 649 (see Figs. 12, and 7) is provided with a hooked portion 6&0arranged to engage stud 282 (Fig. 7) cn arm 28| which, as describedabove, is fast on rock shaft 210 of the card stop mechanism of thedetail card sensing chamber. With reference to Figs. 4 and 10, it willbe noted that sleeve G is actuated by cam 63d, at a time when card stopcam 280 is effective to hold shaft 2li! rocked to close card stop 265.When shaft 650 is rocked counter-clockwise as the result of the sensingof a non-comparison, i. e'., when sleeve S is actuated to place a highdwell of cam 'lfiil in register with roller li, hook 5t@ engages stud282.f This condition is maintained as long as roller 15| is in registerwith a high dwell on cam 15G. Therefore, when roller 2li! rides onto thelow dwell of cam 280, during the mid-portion of the cycle, springs 258are ineffective to open card stop 255. As a result, the last fed detailcard is retained in the detail card sensing chamber, and is comparedwith the perforation pattern of the succeeding master card in the cyclefollowing that in which the non-comparison was sensed. This condition ismaintained until a master 'card having a perforation pattern,corresponding to that of the last fed detail card, is sensed. There uponsleeve Gil@ is again actuated as described above, to place the adjacentlow dwell of cam 15D in register with roller 75l. Shaft E353 and lever511,9 are thereby rocked clockwise to disengage hook S from stud 282 andpermit the resumption of operation of the card stop mechanism in thedetail card sensing chamber during each machine cycle. This condition ismaintained as long as the perforation patterns in successively senseddetail cards compare with the retained master card perforation pattern.When the first card of the following detail card, group is passed intothe detail Vcard sensing chamber, a non-comparison is sensed and suchcard is retained in the sensing chamber, as above, until a master cardwith a corresponding perforation pattern is compared therewith.

Thus, in this type of operation under control of cam ld, the card stopin the detail card sensing chamber is held closed throughout an entirecycle to retain a detail card when a noncomparison is sensed, but isfree to operate in its usual manner when a comparison is sensed.

E. Description of operation under control of cam 750 If, at the start ofa run, it be assumed that the master card reading retaining mechanismcontains the mechanical representation of a master card perforationpattern Corresponding to that of the rst group of detail cards, the lowdwell of cam l5@ is effective, as in Figs. 1 and 2, to prevent mastercard feeding to permit detail card feeding, and to prevent theretraction of locking slides Sal of the master card reading retainingmechanism. Thus, the mechanical representation of the master cardperforation pattern is retained in the reading retaining mechanism andis compared successively with the perforation patterns of eachdetailcard of the group during succeeding machine cycles. Y

When the first detail card of the following group is fed to the detailcard sensing chamber a non-comparison is sensed and sleeve titl) isactuated by cam 630, as described heretofore, to place the adjacent highdwell of cam lill) in register with roller ll. This movement, throughlever '152, link 155, etc., serves to rock shaft E5!! counter-clockwisewhereby Thereafter, master cards are fed during each cycle and arecompared with the detail card ree* tained in the sensing chamber until amaster card having'a corresponding perforation pattern is sensed.Thereupon sleeve S60 is again actuated, as described above, to place theadjacent low dwell of cam '359 in register with roller i whereby shaft@Ell and levers M9 and 655 are rocked clockwise to the positions shownin Figs. l, 2, 7, and 8. This movement serves (l), to move link ill'l toits lower position (asin Fig. 2) to prevent further master card feeding,and to permit the resumption of detail card feeding,

(2) to cause stud $51 to rock bell-crank Mii counter-clockwise (as inFig. 8) to prevent the operation of the retract mechanism in the mastercard reading retaining mechanism, and

(3), to disengage hook 660 from stud 232 (as in Fig. 7) to permit theresumption of operation of the card stop mechanism in the detail cardsensing chamber.

Thereafter, the detail cards of the second group are 'compared with theretained master card perforation pattern until the rst card of the thirdgroup is sensed. Thereupon, detail card feeding is again prevented andmaster card feeding is resumed, as above. Thus, when cam 750 iseffective in this type of operation, it may be said to be operative tofeed detail records only on a comparison, and master'records only on anoncomparison- For convenience of explanation in thevforeu goingdescription of card feeding operations under control of cam '55%, it wasassumed that a master card perforation pattern was already set `up inthe master card reading retaining mechanism when the run was started.Ordinarily, however, there is no set-up in the reading retainingmechanism at the start of a run, and all reading retaining pins 3% arein their upper position, Thus, when the rst detail card is fed into thedetail card sensing chamber, a non-comparison is sensed immediately.Thereupon, master card feeding is effected until a comparison is sensed,whereupon the feeding of detail cards of the first tion is identical, ineffect, with the actual opera-` tion but has not been interrupted with adiscus-` sion of collateral matter.

CONTROL DEVICE-OPERATION SELECTOR MEcHANIsM In order to render cameffective for controlling card feeding operations, means` correspondingto those disclosed in the above mentioned patent are provided to selectthis `cam for operation. For thispurpose, a cam lug 151 may be` placedat any desired position on a disc 158 secured toa sleeve 162 of theoperation selector mechanism which is pivotally mounted on a frame stud15|. Then, when operation selector dial 100, also fast on sleeve 162, isrotated to a position to place a lug 1511 in register with a roller 156,carried on `the right endof lever 154, lever 154 is rocked clockwise toelevate pivot 153i whereby roller 15| is moved into operativerelationship with cam 150 to render the cam effective for controllingcard feeding operations.

CONTROL DEVIcE-MODIFIED CONTROL or CARD FEED MECHANISM ber of groups ofdetail cards areY to be compared with a greater number of master cards.However, in a system in which the number of groupsof detail cards is inexcess of the number of mas-` ter cards (i. e., in a system in whichwthedetail` card file comprises a group of comparing detail cards for eachmaster card inthe master le and also includes groups of detail cards forwhich there are no comparing masters) these devices are not adapted toeffect proper operation` since the sensing of a detail card for whichthere is no l comparing master card would result in causing master cardfeeding until the master card file is exhausted. In the latter type ofcard handling system it is apparent that the perforation pattern of eachmaster card must be retained until the group of detail cards `havingcorresponding designative perforation patterns are compared therewith,and that thegroupsof non-'comparing detail cards must be passed throughthe machine Without effecting the disposition of the master cards.`

To obtain `this result the present invention provides means, operable inconjunction `with the above described card feeding` card stop, andretract mechanisms, to prevent the `feeding of more than one master cardafter the sensingof a non-comparison following the sensing of a`comparison, and t0 effect detail card feeding after each succeedingcycle in which a non-comparison is sensed, aswell as after all cycles inwhich comparisons are sensed. By this arrangement, the perforationpattern of each master card is` retained in the reading retainingmechanism until the detail card group` having corresponding designativeperforation" patterns` is compared therewith, despite the fact thatgroups of noncomparing detail cards may have been compared therewith` inthe interim.

To effect this type of operation, HJthe pivotal connection between lever152 and link 155, described in the cited application, is replaced -bya`pin-inslot connection comprising a pin 85| (Fig. 1) xed in the rightend of lever152 and an L-shaped slot 852 in linie 155. A light springA853, extended between a horizontal arm 854 on link 155 and a stud on`lever 152, tends to rock link .155 clockwise, and, unless otherwiseprevented, serves to hold stud in the left endof the horizontal portionof slot S52. is also provided with a vertical extension `855 having Vafinger 856 capable of coacting with a bail 85:1 pivotall'y mounted on astud 858 in an arm 859 which is fixed to rock shaft 296 of themastercard feeding mechanism. A spring 850, extended between pins inarnfrElV and bail 851, serves, unless otherwise prevented, to hold thevertical'. arm of the bail. in contact with a stud 86 inarm 659 andthereby maintain the bail ina substantially horizontal. position. Thearrangement of .these elements issuch that when a comparison is sensed,(i. e., when roller 15| is placed. in register with a low dwellV of cam159) finger 85.6. is belowbail 85.1,.whereas,.when a non-` comparison`ist sensed (i. e., when roller 15| is` placed-,in register with ahighdwell of cam 150)., leverV 1:52 is rocked `counter-clockwise to elevatelink155 and move finger 356` into the path of movement of bail 851.

Thus, when a comparison is sensedcam 15D is operative to effect theseveral operations described above under the heading Description ofoperation under control of cam 1561when a `comparisony is sensed,namely, to

l. Preventmast'er cardA feedingfand to permit detail card feeding duringthe following cycle,

2. Prevent the operation of the reading retain- .ing retract mechanismwhereby the perforation pattern set up by the last sensed `master cardis retained, and,

3. To permit cyclical operation of the card stop mechanism in the detailcard sensing chamber.

@am 155 remains operative to effect these operations as long ascomparisons `continue to be sensed `insuccessive cycles.

Whenanon-comparison is sensed after the sensing of a comparison, cam15|!A is rotated to place a high dwell thereon in register with roller15| whereby the-cam is operativev for one cycle to eifectthe severaloperations described under the above mentioned heading, when anon-comparison is sensed, namely, to i 1'. Prevent detailA card feeding,and to permit master card feeding during the following cycle,

2. Permit the operation of the retract mechanism inthe master`cardreading retaining Ymechanism, and

3. Hold the detail card stop in effective position to retain the lastsensed detail card in the detail: card sensing chamber.

However, inasmuch as the counter-clockwise movement` imparted by cam 150to lever 152 serves to elevate link 155 and extension 855, finger 856 israised into the path of movement of bail 851 in the early portion of thecycle following the sensing of the non-comparison. Immediatelythereafter (see Fig; 10) shaft 296 is-rocked clockwise under control of`cam to feed a new master card into the master card sensing chamber. Thismovement, through arm 859, serves to withdraw bail 851 from engagementwith finger 856. In` the latter part ofthe cycle shaft 295 is rockedclockwise by cam to restore picker arm. 295 to aposition to feed a newmaster card. In the latter portion of this movement, bail 851 on arm:859*` engages finger 856` and Vserves to rock Link 7.55-

. 155 clockwise link 155 counter-clockwise against the tension of spring853. At the end of this cycle the several elements attain the positionsvshown in Fig. 2A in which the link 155 is rocked suniciently to placethe vertical portion of slot 852 substantially in alignment with stud85| on lever 152. In this position, spring 655 on cross rod 653 tends topull link155 downwardly, and to rock shaft 650 clockwise to the positionusually attained when roller 15| is ,in register with a low dwell on cam150. However, referring to Fig. 10, it will be lnoted that card feed cam|91) does not begin to cause card feeding until 30 of a cycle haveelapsed, and does not fully restore the card feeding mechanisms until 30of the following cycle. Thus, at the end of the cycle following thesensing of the non-comparison, cam |93 has not restored slides |19 and30| to their extreme rightward positions, and latch |94 is still engagedwith stud |93 on slide |19 of the detail card feeding mechanism. In thisposition of the parts, the pressure exerted by spring |9| is suicient tomaintain stud |93 engaged with latch |94 despite the pressure exerted byspring S56. However, at approximately 15 of the following cycle, cam |50is effective to move slide |19 slightly to the right to provide a slightclearance between stud |53 and latch ld. When this occurs, spring 65B iseffective to rock shaft 650 clockwise to the limit of the verticalportion of slot 852, i. e., to the position usually attained when roller15| is in register with a low dwell of cam 156, so that,

1. Link 641 is moved to its lower position to engage latch 305 with pin304 to vprevent further master card feeding, and to disengage latch |94from pin E93 to permit the resumption of detail card feeding,

2. stud 651 on lever 655 (see Fig. 8) rocks bellcrank dltcounter-clockwise to prevent further operation of the reading retainingretract mechanism, whereby the perforation patternl of the last sensedmaster card is retained, and

3. hook 36|) on lever 6119 (see Fig. '1) is disengaged from stud 232 topermit the resumption of cyclical operation of the card stop mechanismin the detail card sensing chamber.

Thus, after one master card is fed asV the result of the sensing of anon-comparison, detail cards are fed during succeeding cycles eventhough cam 150 remains inr position to effect master card feeding, i.e., as long as non-comparisons continue to besensed. This condition ismaintained, and a detail card is fedl during each succeeding cycle untilthe rst detail card of the group having designative perforation patternscorresponding to the retained perforation pattern of the last sensedmaster card is passed into the detail card sensing chamber. When thisoccurs, a comparison is sensed at the end of the cycle and, as a resultof such sensing, sleeve 603 is advanced one step by the control deviceactuating mechanism, as described above, to place roller 15| in registerwith a low dwell of cam 15|)o Then, inasmuch as shaft E53 has `alreadybeen moved to its extreme clockwise position, spring 853 is effectivefirst, to rock` lever 1,52 clockwise whereby roller 15| is mo'vedagainstthe low dwell of cam 150 and stud 85| is moved to the lower end of thevertical portion of slot 852, and second, to rock link tothe limit ofthe horizontal portion of slot 852. Thus, when a comparison is sensedthev several elements are restored to the positions shown in Fig. 2wherein cam 15H is operative to continue detail card feeding. This con-Cil dition is maintained as long as a comparison is sensed in eachsucceeding cycle, i. e., until all the cards of the detail card grouphaving designative perforation patterns corresponding to the retainedperforation pattern of the last sensed master card are passed throughthe detail card sensing mechanism.

AWhen the first card of the following detail card group is passed intothe sensing chamber, a non-comparison is sensed and sleeve 600 isadvanced one step by the control device actuating mechanism, asdescribed above, to position cam 150 for causing master card feedingwhereby the next master card is fed to the master card sensingmechanism. In the event the perforation pattern in this card compareswith that of the detail card held in the detail card sensing chamber,sleeve 600 is again advanced one step whereby cam 150 is positioned toprevent further master card feeding and to cause feeding ofthe remainingdetail cards of the group. However, in the event the perforation patternin the new master card does not compare with that of the detail cardheld in the detail card sensing chamber, bail 851 on arm'859 isoperative to effect the same result without affecting the position ofsleeve G and the control cams mounted thereon.

Thus, when card feeding is controlled by cam 150 in conjunction with themechanism of the present invention, master card feeding is effected forone cycle after the sensing of each noncomparison that follows thesensing of a comparison, whereas detail card feeding is effected afterthe sensing of each succeeding non-comparison of a series ofnon-comparisons, as well as after the sensing of each comparison.

The utility of this arrangement can be readily appreciated when it isconsidered in conjunction with the punching, sorting, and stoppingcontrol mechanisms disclosed in the above mentioned patent, as appliedto actual card handling problems. For example, let it be assumed thatperforation patterns of prepunched quantitative data contained in mastercards, which are also prepunched with designative data, are to bereproduced in detail cards with comparing prepunched designative data ina system in which the detail card file comprises a group of comparingdetail cards for each master card in the master le and also includesgroups Vof detail cards for which there are no comparing master cards.To condition the machine for handling this type of problem, the controldevice is arranged 'so that the mechanism of the present invention, cardfeed control cam 1511, and punch control cam 11i! are rendered effectiveto operate conjointly. In this manner, master and detail card feeding iscontrolled as described above, and detail card punching is controlled asdescribed in the patent, i. e., to permit punching in comparing detailcards and to prevent punching in non-comparing detail cards (seeoperation No. 3 on Fig. '14 of the patent).

Fig. 11 is included herewith to illustrate, by a specific example, themanner in which these operations are effected. In this example, let itbe assumed that the designative data in the detail card groupsrepresented by cards DI and DI', D2 and D2', and D3 and D3 correspondrespectively to the designative data in master cards MI, M2, and M3,whereas there is nor master card having designative data correspondingto the detail cards DX and DX'. The quantitative data contained in eachmaster card is sche- 'V matically indicated by a broken line.

It it be assumed that there are 'no Cards in the comparing mechanism isin the position at- 4tainedwhen a comparison is sensed (i. e., as inFig. 2) so that detail card feeding is effected when the machine isstarted. I K

In the first cycle, after the machine is started, detail card DI is fedfrom the detail card magae zine D-M to the` detail card sensing chamberD`-S. In the latter part of the cycle detail card DI `is sensed.However, inasmuch as there is no` set-up in themaster card readingretaining mechanism, the comparing mechanism senses a non-comparingcondition cle. 7 .i

In the second cycle, due to the sensing of the` non-comparison,.sleevelland the cams thereon are advanced one step whereby Ydetail vcard DI isretained in the detail card sensing chamber, further detail card feedingisprevented, and master card .feeding is initiated. During this cycle,master card Ml is fed from the master card magazine M--M to the master`card sensing chamber AM--S, and the designative` data `therein iscompared with that of detail card DI. Inasmuch as these cards` havecorresponding designative perforation patterns, a comparison is sensedat the end of the cycle.

In the third cycle, due to the sensingof the comparison, sleeve 6.00 andthe camsjthereon are again advanced one step whereby further master cardfeeding `is prevented, the master card perforation pattern is`retainedyand detail card feeding is resumed. During this cycle, detailcard DI is passed fromsensing chamber D--S tothe punch chamber D-Pwherein the quantitative data of theretained master card perforationpattern is reproduced therein, as described in the cited application.Also during this cycle, detail cardV DI' ispassed into sensing chamberD-S wherein its `designative data is sensed andcompared with theretained perforation patternofmaster card` Ml.. Inasmuch as these cardshave corresponding designative pei*- foration patterns, a comparison'issensed at the end of the cycle.

It -will be noted, as described in the patent, that although the mastercard perforation pattern is retained, the master cardA itself is passedout of the lmaster card sensing chamber during the cyclelfollowing thatin which it was sensed. This arrangement is provided to prevent theexcessive wear of the master card that would be caused by `successivesensing operations in the event aaplurality of detail cards is to becompared therewith. To clarify the present explanation, a dotted lineinmaster card sensing chamber M-S is used to `represent` a retainedmaster card `perforation pattern, whereas the master card itself isrepresented in `its actual position by `a` full line. It will also benoted that ,inas-v muchas sorting control cam 18B, the function ofwhichiis fully described in the patent, isnot operative inlthe presentillustration, the mecha-l nism controlled thereby is not effective to`Segragate comparing and'nonfcomparing detail and master cards.`Therefore, all `master cards are conveyed lfrom master` card sensingchamber M-S to the mastercard receiver pocket Maf-R.

Likewise, all` detail` cards; are conveyed p from punchlchamberD-P tothe detail card receiver pocket D-R. No cards are `conveyed to the mas`terrcard eject pocket M+E, or to the detail card.

ejecltgpocket D--lit` In lthe fourth ,cycle, inasmuchas another .comeyat the end of thecy-J is passed into punch chamber D-P during the mainsdisabled, and detail card feeding is' conr` tinued. During `this cycle,detail card DI is conveyed to detail card receiverpocket D-R,`and detailcard Dll is conveyed topunchv chamber 1. D- P in which the quantitativedata of the retained master card perforation pattern is reproducedtherein. Also during this cycle, detail card` DX, the first card of thenon-comparing detail card group, is passed into sensing chamber D-S,wherein its designative data is sensed, and is comparedwith the retainedperforation pattern of master card `Ml. Inasmuch as the designativeperforation patterns in these cards do not correspond, a non-comparisonis sensed at the end of the cycle.

'In the-fifth cycle, dueto the sensing of the non-comparison, sleeve60|) and the cams thereon are again advanced one step whereby punchcontrol cam is positioned to prevent detail card punching,` as describedin the patent. This movement also serves to position cam 'l5 to retaindetail card DX in sensing chamber D-S, toprevent further detail cardfeeding, and to resume master feeding. During this cycledetail card DIis passed to receiverpocket D R. Also` designative perforation patternsinl these cards do not correspond, a non-comparison is again sensed atthe end of this cycle. l

Inasmuch as this is the second successive noncomparison, no movement isimparted to sleeve bili!v of the control mechanism during the sixthcycle.` Thus, punch control cam `'H0 remains in position to preventdetail card punching, and card feed 'cam 75l] remains in position tocontinue master card feeding. However, since the r sensing of the firstnon-comparison was-effective to raise finger 856 into' the path ofmovement of the bail "857, the bail served to rock link` to itscounter-clockwise position in thelatter portion of the fth cycle, andthereby permit springA 655 to rock shaft 650 clockwise in the early partof the `sixth'cycle to shift from master card feed' ing to detail cardfeeding. Thus, during the sixth cycle, the perforation pattern of mastercardMZ is retained :by thereading retaining mechanism, further mastercard feeding is prevented, and detail card feeding is resumed.V It willbe noted that the change in operation of the card feeding mechanisms waseffected without altering the position of the sleeve EBU of the controlmechanism. i Therefore, punch control cam 'Vil remains. in position to`prevent detail card punching. As aresult, although detail `card DX sixthcycle, vthe quantitative data contained in v master card M2 is notreproducedin the detail card.- Also during Vthe sixth cycle', detailcard Y DX', the second card of thelnon-comparing detail cardgroup, ispassed into sensing chamber D S, wherein its designative datais sensed,and is compared with the retained perforationv pattern of. mastercardME. Inasmuch as the designative perforation patterns in these cardsdol another `non-comparison` is not` correspond, sensed at1the end ofthe cycle.`

In the seventh cycle, sincefanother successive parted to sleeve 600ofthe control mechanism. Thus, Vas in the sixth cycle, punch control cam110 remains in position to prevent detail card punching, and shaft 650is held rocked by spring 65B whereby the perforation pattern of mastercard M2 is retained by the reading retaining mechanism, the master cardfeeding mechanism is held disabled to prevent master card feeding, andthe detail card feeding mechanism is free to continue detail cardfeeding. During this cycle,V detail card DX is passed to detail receiverpocket D-R, and detail card DX is passed to punch chamber D-P. However,since'cam 110 is in position to prevent punching, as in the sixth cycle,the perforation pattern of master card M2r is not reproduced in detailcard DX. Also during this cycle, detail card D2, the rst card of thegroup having designative data corresponding to that in master card M2,Vis passed into'sens'i'ng chamber D-S wherein its designative data issensed, and is compared with the retained perforationk pattern of mastercard M2. Inasmulch as the designative perforation patterns in thesecards correspond, a comparison is sensedat thel end of the cycle.

In the eighth cycle,

again advanced one step whereby cam 110 is positioned` to permit detailcard punching, and a low dwell of cam 150 is placed in register withroller 15|. In this manner the parts are restored to the position shownin Fig. 2 wherein spring 656- continues to hold shaft 550 rockedclockwise whereby the perforation pattern of master card M2 is retainedby the reading retaining mechanism, the master card feeding mechanism isheld disabled to prevent master card feeding, and the detail cardfeeding mechanism is free to continue detail cardffeeding, During thiscycle, detail card DX is conveyed to detail receiver pocket D-R, anddetail card D2 is conveyed to punch chamber D-P whereinthe quantitativedata of master card M2 is reproduced in the detail card. Also, duringthis cycle, detail card D2 is passed into sensing chamber D-S whereinits designative data is sensed, and is compared with the retainedperforation pattern of master card M2. Inasmuch as the designativeperforation patterns in these cardscorrespond, a comparison is sensed atthe end o-f the cycle. .During succeeding cycles, with the arrangementof cards shown in Fig. 11, master card feeding, detail card feeding, anddetail card punching are effected in the same manner as'in the rst fourcycles, described above, so that the quantitative data contained inmaster card M3 is reproduced in the comparing detail cards D3 and D3'.

Thus, when the mechanism of the invention,

card feed control cam 150, and punch'control camV 11B are renderedeffective conjointly, master and detail card feeding is :effectedin sucha manner that the quantitative'data fromveach master card Yis reproducedin each. card of the group of detail cards Yhaving correspondingdesignative data,v but no data'is reproduced in the non-comparing groupsof detail car-ds. From the foregoing description it is apparent that thetype of card non-comparison was sensed, no movementis im-;

MANUAL SELECTION or MODIFIED CARD FEED CONTROL frequently .desirable tocompare a file of master cards with a le of groups of detail cards,in'one instance, when the number of master cards exdue to the sensing ofthe Y comparison, sleeve 600 and the cams thereon are feeding obtainedby the conjoint operation of card feed cam 15E! and the mechanism of theinvention may be used in `conjunction with any type of card handlingoperation set forth in the chart on Fig. 74 of the above mentionedpatent when the quantitative relationship of the cards tobe handledsorequires.v

ceeds the number of groups of detail cards, and, in another instance,when the number of groups ofV detail cards exceeds'the numberV of mastercards. To eect proper card feeding in each instance, the control deviceof a statistical card comparing machine may be provided with a cam 150and its associated mechanism, as originally described in the abovementioned patent, for controlling card feeding when there is an excessof master cards, and with a second cam 150, operable in conjunction withthe mechanism of the present invention, as described above, forcontrolling card feeding when there is an excess of groups of detailcards. In this case, each train of mechanism would be separatelyrendered effective for operation under control of the operation selectordial. However, it is apparent that the provision of two cams 15,0 woulddecrease the number of different control cams that may be arranged onsleeve 600 of the control device, and thereby tend to decrease thenumber of different card handling operations that may be eifected on onemachine.

To avoid this condition, the invention provides manually settable meanswhereby either type of card feeding may be effected selectivelybyemploying merely ya single rcard feeding'cam 150. For this purpose, alever 850 (Fig, 1), the handle of which protrudes through a slot in theframe of the machine', isV fixed to a collar pivotally mounted on aframe stud 865. Fixed to the collar on which lever 850 is Vmounted is adetent plate 866, and an arm 810 that isarranged beneath bail 851.Suitable notches in detent plate 866 cooperate with a stud in a springurged detent arm 861, pivoted on a frame stud 532, whereby lever 850,when manually shifted, is retained in either an upper position U (seeFig. 3) or a lower positionrL.

When lever 850 is moved to its upper position, as in Fig, ll, arm 810rocks bail 851 clockwise about its pivot 858 to prevent anycoactionbetween the bail and finger 856 on link 155. In this setting, spring 853serves to retain stud in the left end of the horizontal portion of slot`852 whereby lever 152 andV link 155 function as though pivotallyconnected. Thus, the master and detail card feeding mechanismsarecontrolled solely by cam to effect detail card feeding after thesensing of each comparison, and to effect master card feeding after thesensing of each non-comparison, as described above under the heading'Controlk device--card Vfeedcontrol mechamsm. Y

When lever 855 is moved to its lower position,`

as in Figs. 2 an-d 2A, arm 810 is moved out of engagement with bail 851.In this setting, Ybail 851 is effective to cause relative displacementof link 155 and lever.` 152 when a non-comparison is sensed,Y asdescribed` above under the heading Control device-modified control ofcard feed mechanism. Thus, the card feeding mechanisms arecontrolled-conjointly byy cam 150, bail 851 and the associated elementsto effect master card feeding for one cycle after the sensing of eachnon-comparison that follows the sensing ofa comparison, and to effectdetail card feeding after the sensing of each succeeding non-comparisonof aseries of non-comparisons, as well" as afterzthe sensing of eachcomparison;

Thus, when the operation selector dial is posii tioned to render com'|50 effective, the machine may beconditioned toobtain proper master anddetail card feeding, in either of the above'mentioned instances, merelyby setting lever 850 accordingly;

"Should` the arrangement of cardsin a given system so require, cam1,50fmay be offset-45 relative to sleeve 69B, as described in the abovementioned patent, whereby it is operativeto effect master car `feedingafter the sensing of each comparison and toeffect detail card feedingafter the sensing of eachnon-comparison. If required,

cam `|50 may also be offset when used in conjunction with the abovedescribed invention.` In this case, master card feeding is effected forone cycle after the sensing of each comparison that follows the sensingof a: non-comparison, and detail card feeding is effected afteri thesensing of each succeeding comparison, ofa series of comparisons as:Well as after each non-comparison. A detailed description of the mannerof operation of the inventionv in `conjunction with Caml 159, when cam15!! is offset, isf not included herein since it is believed to beapparentto those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing descriptionof the card feeding. control exercised by these elements whenvcam 150 isinits original position.

While I have described what `IV consider to be a highly desirableembodiment of my invention, it is obvious that. many changes in formcould be made without departing from thespirit of my invention, and I,therefore, do not limitmyself to theexact form herein shown anddescribed, nor to anything less than thewhole of my invention ashereinbefore set forth, and asA hereinafter claimed.

`What I claim as new, and desire Letters Patent, is:

1. `In a machine for handling master and detail records and including` acomparing means for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected pore tions of such records, thecombination of amaster recordl feeding mechanism and a detail record"feeding mechanism, `each of such feeding mechanisms being` operable toeffect record feeding during each machinetcycle,` a locking means fmovable to a first position toiprevent the operation of the masterrecord` feeding mechanism or to a secondposition to prevent theoperation of the detail record feedingmechanism, impositive means tourge said locking means to its first position, means operable under thecontrol of the comparing means to move said locking means positively toits second position` whenza comparison is sensed and to permit saidimpositivemeans to move said! locking means to its first position when anon-comparison is sensed, and means operative when, a comparison issensed todisengage said last recited means' from saidlocking means afterone machine` cycle.

2; In a machine forhandling master and detail records and including acomparing means for `sensing comparisons `or knon-comparisonsbetweenperforation patterns in preselected portions-of such recordstthecombination of a master record feeding mechanism and a detail recordfeeding mechanism, each of such feeding mechanisms being operable toeffect record feeding during each machine cycle, a locking means mov`able to aV first position to prevent the operation of the masterv recordfeeding mechanism orto a to secure by secondposition to prevent theoperation of the detail record feeding mechanism, impositivo means tourge said locking means to its first position, positioning meansoperable under the control of the rcomparing means to move said lockingmeans positively to its `second position when a comparison is lsensedand to permit said impositivo means to move said locking means to its`first position when a `non-comparison is sensed, means also operativewhen a comparison is sensed to disengage said positioning means fromsaid locking means after one machine cycle, and means to reengage saidpositioning means `with said. locking means when thefollowingnoncomparison is sensed.A

3. In a machine for handling master and detail,` records and including acomparing means for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, thecombination of a master record feeding mechanism and a detail recordfeeding mechanism, each of such feeding mechanisms being operabletoeifect record feeding during each machine cycle, a lockingymeansmovable to a firstpositionto prevent the operation of thefmaster'record`feeding mechanism or to a second position to prevent the operation ofthe detail` record feeding mechanism, impositive means toi urge saidlocking means to its first position, positioningwmeans operable underthe control ofthe compa-ring means` to move said locking `meanspositively to its second position when a comparison is sensed and topermit said impositive means to function `when anon-comparison` issensed,mean`s operative when effective to disengage said positioningmeansfrom said locking means after one machine cycleY when a comparisonis sensed, and means to render 'said last recited means effective orineffective.

4. In a machine for handling master andide-` tail recordsand includingacomparing meansfor Asensing comparisons or non-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected por-` tions of such records, thecombination of a master record feeding mechanism and a detail recordfeeding mechanism, each of such feeding mechanisms-being operabletoeffect record feeding during each `machine cycle, a locking meansmovable to a rst position to prevent the operation of `the master recordfeeding mechanism or to a second position: toprevent the operation ofthe detail` record feeding mechanism, impositive` means to urge saidYlocking means to its first position, means operable under the control ofthe comparing means to move` said locking means positively to its secondposition when a non-comparison is `sensed and to permitsaid imtionsofsuch records, the combination of a master record feeding mechanismVand a detail record feeding mechanism, eachl of such feeding mechanismsbeing operable to effect record'feeding during each machine cycle, alocking means movable to a first position to prevent the operation ofthe master reoordfeeding mechanismor to a secondiposition to prevent theoperation of the detail record feeding mechanism, impositivo means tourge said locking means to its first position, positioning meansoperable under the control of the comparing means to move said lockingmeans positively to its second position when a hon-comparison is sensedand to permit said impositive means to move said locking means to itsfirst position when a comparison is sensed, means also operative when anon-comparison is sensed to disengage said positioning means from saidlocking means after one machine cycle, and means to reengage saidpositioning means with saidV locking means when the following comparisonis sensed.

6. In a machine for handling master and detail records and including acomparing means for sensing comparisons orynon-comparisons betweenperforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, thecombination of a master record feeding Amechanism and a detail recordfeeding mechanism, Yeach of such feeding mechanisms being operable toeffect record feeding during eachfmachne cycle, a locking means movableto a first position tov prevent the operation of the master recordfeeding mechanism or to a second positi'on'to'` prevent the operation ofthe detail record feeding mechanism, impositive means to urge saidlocking means to its first position, positioning means operable underthe control of theA comparing means to move said locking meanspositively to its second position when a non-comparison is sensed andtoppermit said impositive means toV function whenV a comparison issensed, means operative when effective to disengage said positioningmeans from said locking means after one machine cycle when anon-comparison'is sensed, and means torender said last recited meanseffective orV ineffective.Y l

7. In amachine for operating on master and detail records and includinga comparing mechanism forV sensing comparisons or non-comparisonsbetween perforation patterns in preselected portions of such records,the combination of a master record feeding mechanism and a detail recordfeeding mechanism, each of such feeding mechanisms being operable toeffect record feeding during each machine cycle, a locking means movableto a first position to prevent the operation ofthe master `recordfeeding mechanism or to a second position to preventythe operation ofthe detail record feeding mechanism, impositive means'to urge saidlocking means to its first position, a first positioning means arrangedwhen eiiective to operate under the control of the comparing mechanismto move said locking means to itssecond position when a non-comparisonis` sensed and to permit said impositive means to move said lockingVmeans to its first position when a comparison is sensed', a secondpositioning means arranged wheneffective to operate under the'control ofthe comparing mechanism to move said locking means to its secondposition when a comparison is sensed and to permit said impositive meansto move said locking means to its first position when a non-comparisonis sensed, means to render either of said positioning means effectiveselectively, and means operative in conjunction with the positioningmeans that is rendered effective either to disengage'said firstpositioning means from said locking means after one machine cycle whenaV non-comparison is sensed or Ato disengage said second positioningmeans from said locking meansv after one machine cycle when a comparisonis sensed.

8. The invention set forth in claim 7 in com-'- bination with a detailrecord conveying means for passing detail records to a receiving pocket,a deiiector governing the opera-tion of-the conveying means, saiddeflector being settable to a plurality ofpositions and arranged in afirst for passing detail records to a receiving pocket, a

deflector governing the operation of the conveying means, said deflectorbeing settable to a plurality of positions andV arranged in a firstposition to` permit the conveyance of records to the receiving pocket,and in a second position to prevent the conveyance of records to thereceiving pocket, a control'mechanism arranged when effective to operateunderftheY control of the comparing mechanism to set said deflector inits second position when a'comparison' is sensed and in its firstposition when a non-'comparison is sensed, and means to render saidcontrol mechanism effective concomitantly with either of saidpositioning means.

10. The invention set forth in claim'iin combination with a punchmechanism for transferring additional perforation patterns from themaster records Vto the detail records, a locking mechanism governing theoperation of the punch mechanism, said locking mechanism being settableto a plurality of positions and arranged in a first position to permitthe operation of, the punch mechanism, andV in a second position toprevent the operation of the punch mechanism, a control mechanismarranged when eective to operate under the control of the comparingmechanism to set the punch locking mechanism in its first position whena comparison is sensed and in its second position when a non-comparisonis sensed, and .means to render said control mechanism effectiveconcomitantly with either of said positioning means.

1l. The invention set forthV in claim 7 in combination with a punchmechanism for transferring additional perforation patterns from themaster records to the detail records, a locking mechanism governing theoperation of the punch mechanism, said locking mechanism being settableto a plurality of positions and arranged in a first position to permitthe operation of the punch mechanism, and in a second position to`prevent the operation of the punch mechanism,

a control mechanism arranged when effective to operate ,under thecontrol of the comparing mechanism to set the punch locking mechanism inits second position when a comparison is sensed and in its firstposition when a noncomparison is sensed, and means to render saidcontrol mechanism effective concomitantly with either of saidpositioning means.

12. The invention set forth in claim 7 in combination with a machinestopping mechanism, a member governing the operation of the stoppingmechanism, said member being set/table to a plurality of positions andarranged in a first

